9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Arielle Charnas is the super influencer behind the style blog-turned-brand Something Navy. Arielle started the blog in 2009, when she was just 22 years old. And since then, she’s gained a following of more than a million people. Last year, she launched her brand with Nordstrom… which was so popular that it crashed the site. Now, she’s rolling out more and more collections with the retailer. On the couch, she talks to us about being her own boss, choosing the right opportunities, and building a team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Year...new Skimm’d from the Couch. We’re starting off the year with the queen of motivation, Jillian Michaels. You might remember Jillian from her role as a trainer on the hit NBC show, “The Biggest Loser,” or from her fitness DVDs. But you might not know that she also built a wellness empire, including an exercise streaming platform, and her award-winning fitness app. Jillian’s also a best-selling author, with a brand-new book out: “The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty.” On the couch, she talks to us about how she motivates herself, leading by example, and making long-term resolutions...that you can actually keep. Get ready to be inspired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Alexa von Tobel graduated college, she still had a lot of q’s about how to manage her cash. So she did what anyone would: wrote a 75-page business plan. And took it to Harvard Business School. Casual. But within a semester, she decided to drop out and start her business for real. Enter: LearnVest, the company that makes financial resources more accessible for everyone. In 2015, LearnVest was acquired by Northwestern Mutual. And now, Alexa has responsibilities at both companies. On the couch, she talks to us about dropping out of business school, why she has two executive coaches, and going through an acquisition...while 9 months pregnant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Barry grew up in Ireland. And she always knew news was the path for her. Sam started out her career as a researcher, and then became an international reporter. Her reporting took her around the world, where she started to see the power of social media. She took that realization and went on to help major news organizations build out their social media presences. We’re talking huge names like BBC and CNN. Now, she’s the editor in chief of Glamour. Anna Wintour has called her Glamour’s first digital-native editor...so it’s no surprise that Sam’s taking the magazine entirely online. On the couch, she talks to us about being fearless, making changes at an established company, and the three ways she negotiates for herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week is the one and only Martha Stewart. Growing up, she had a knack for all things lifestyle: cooking, gardening and sewing. But after college, she decided to follow a different path. To Wall Street. Martha eventually took the business skills she learned there...and used them to build an empire of her own. There have been bumps along the way. But now, she’s the Chief Creative Officer of Sequential Brands Group, where she oversees everything from the Martha Stewart Living Magazine to her cooking show with Snoop Dogg. We had a lot of questions, too. On the couch, she talks to us about her very first side hustle, how she got her company started, and what she’s like as a manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Comstock is the first female vice chair of GE. But before that, she built a career in communications at companies like CBS, CNN, and NBCUniversal. At NBC, Beth helped launch one of your favorite binge-ing sites: Hulu. And she kept working her way up the ranks. All the way to becoming the first female Vice Chair of GE. Most recently -- Beth wrote a book about courage, creativity, and making change. It’s called “Imagine it Forward.” On the couch, she talks to us about what a vice chair actually is, why she took the job nobody else wanted, and what it means to be an introverted leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Bush Lauren has diplomacy in her blood. Former President George HW Bush is her grandfather, and President George W Bush is her uncle. But Lauren has built a legacy all her own. She’s the CEO and co-founder of FEED Projects, the company that sells products like bags and accessories...and uses the sales to help distribute food all around the world. Lauren came up with the idea in college while working with the UN. Flash forward a few years, and FEED has donated more than 100 million meals to people in need. On the couch, Lauren talks to us about asking for advice, taking maternity leave, and starting a company -- without any other job experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're baaaack. With vino. And Barbara Corcoran. You know Barbara as one of the sharks on “Shark Tank.” But the show is just one part of her story. After college, Barbara took a job as a teacher. She quit after a year and moved on to waitressing. A little while after that, she started her own real estate business...and turned it into a multi-million dollar empire. She sold it in the early 2000s. Since then, she’s been using her money to help other entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground at "Shark Tank," and on her own podcast, “Business Unusual.” On the couch, she talks to us about the 22 jobs she had by age 23, the loan that helped her make it big, and how to negotiate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midterm elections are in T minus 6 days. Politicians are trying to convince you to hire them. And behind every politician...is a communications director helping them get the word out. So we brought in two of them to talk to us about how they do their jobs -- and how they made it to the top of the political game. Episode 2: Jennifer Palmieri. Jennifer has a long history in politics, starting when she interned for then-Senator Leon Panetta (D-CA) in college (Panetta was later President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff). Later, Jennifer got into the White House herself. And she became President Barack Obama’s communications director. After that, she was the head of comms for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Now she’s also an author. Her new book is all about stories and advice for the next generation of female leaders. On the couch, she talks to us about crying at work, supporting her female colleagues, and managing up...when your boss is the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midterm elections are in T minus 6 days. Politicians are trying to convince you to hire them. And behind every politician...is a communications director helping them get the word out. So we brought in two of them to talk to us about how they do their jobs -- and how they made it to the top of the political game. Episode 1: AshLee Strong. AshLee has worked in communications roles all over Washington, from the House of Representatives, to the Senate, to the White House. She was even the senior communications director for Governor Scott Walker’s (R-WI) 2016 presidential run. These days, she’s the national press secretary for one of the most powerful Republicans in the country: House Speaker Paul Ryan. On the couch, she talks to us about what a comms director actually is, how she created a network in Washington, and what it’s like to disagree with your boss...when he’s the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices